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Wednesday, October 17, 2018

ARC Review: Out in the Deep by Lane Hayes

From the blurb:

Derek Vaughn is a little too serious. He’s a type A control personality with a penchant for order and a love of water polo. But he’s determined to enjoy his last year of college. The real world with a serious job and big expectations can wait for a few months. He’s going soak up every minute on campus with his friends and teammates before he moves on. The only possible kink in his plan is the new guy on the team… also known as his nemesis.

Gabe Chadwick has big Olympic dreams. His transfer between Southern California universities has nothing to do with scholastics. The degree is his backup plan. He’s not there to party or make friends. And he certainly isn’t going to announce his sexuality. But he can’t deny there’s something special about the uptight team captain. However, when an unwitting friendship and mutual attraction collide, both will have to decide if this is the real thing or if they’re about to lose it all in the deep.

Heather's rating:

A romance with two bisexual athletes? Yes, please!

I haven't read a Lane Hayes book in some time, mostly because she is so nice in real life that it would crush me to hate her stuff. I didn't hate Out in the Deep, and I even really loved it at times, even though the dreaded I'm breaking up with you for your own good happened near the end (ugh).

Out in the Deep is a really sweet story with relatively low angst, which is nice for a closeted guy plotline (two closeted guys here). I wasn't in the mood for something really heavy, so light and sweet was perfect.

Though the story wasn't angsty, it was a bit dramatic for my tastes. I felt like these guys acted even younger than their age (I was married at 22, for F's sake), and I felt frustrated by them, especially near the end.

I wish I liked this one more because I've loved Lane Hayes' stories in the past, but it was still a solid effort and a sexy little read for a rainy day.